Water-meter connection.



E. H. FORD.

WATER METER CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2o, I9I8.

1,301,243. Patented Apr.-22,1919.

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MTINTTNT ATTORNEY.

EDWIN n. FoRnoI WARASH, INDIANA, AssIGNoR iro FORD 'METER B0X COMPANY, or WARASH, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

'WATER-'METER CONNECTION.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EnwINH-VFoRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wabash, in the `county `of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Water-Meter Connections, of whichthe following is a specification. l.

This invention relates to a coupling for admitting the introduction and removal of a Vwater meter from a service pipe; and one ofthe objects ofthe invention consists in the provision vof va'device of the above character by which ,slight variations in Vthe lengths of different meters can be compensated for, thereby permitting effective con` nections to be made with the opposing ends of a service pipe and between the ends of which a meteris to be placed.

A further object of the invention consists in the Vprovision, of a device `of the above character which fis simple in construction, efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

I accomplish the above objects-of the invention, and suchothers as-may appear from a perusal of the specification and claims, by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in whichf Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional style of a water meter within a service pipe, showing my coupling in operative position. Fig. 2 is a view, on a considerably enlarged scale, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the coupling. Fig. 3 is a view'siinilar to Fig. 2 except that the coupling is shown as occupying a normal operative position.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a conventional style of a water meter; 11 and 12 the meter-spuds, through which the water passes into and out of the meter, and 13 and 14 the opposing ends of the water service pipeV line. Meter-spud 11 is provided with external threads and is suitably connected with the end 13 of the service pipe.

My improved coupling is introduced between the meter-Spud 12 and end 14 of the service pipe. The coupling comprises a hollow sleeve 15 which is provided at one end of its external surface with threads 16 by which proper connection is made with the threaded end 14 of the service pipe. Sleeve Specification of Letters Patent. Patnted Apr, 22, 1919,

i Application filed November 20, 1918. Serial No. 263,356.

15 is also provided with internal square faced threads 17 which engage corresponding threads 18 on the outer surface of a cylinder 19 so that when -said cylinder is rotated the latter is moved longitudinally relatively of sleeve 15. This longitudinal movement of cylinder 19 enables the length of the coupling to be varied so as to accommodate slight variations that may exist in the lengths of different water meters. To prevent leakage of `water, between sleeve 15 and cylinder 19 I provide a packing-gland comprising a nut 20having internal threads to be screwed upon the threaded Yend of sleeve 15 carrying the threads 21, and nut 20 is further provided with an inwardly turned annular iiange 22 to form a seat for a gasket 23 which is tightly compressed against the adjacent end of sleeve 15 when nut 2O is seated. t

The free end of cylinder 19 is provided with an external annular rib 25 which prevents displacement of a coupling-nut 27 having an inwardly turned annular flange 28 to contact said rib. Couplingnut 27 has internal threads 31 by which it can be secured to meter-Spud 12, and coupling-nut 27 is susceptible of being moved longitudinally of cylinder 19 until such movement is arrested by ycontact with a pin 35 arranged in the outer surface of cylinder 19. Furthermore, coupling-nut 27 is free to rotate independently of cylinder 19 until its movement is arrested by a lug 36 mounted on said nut coming into contact with the side of pin 35. This longitudinal and rotational travel of coupling'nut 27 independently of cylinder 19 enables the final connection to be made with meter-Spud 12, after cylinder 19 has been properly positioned. To prevent water leakage between the meeting ends of cylinder 19 and meter-Spud 12 I interpose a gasket 30.

The operation of the device is as follows: Meter 10 is first connected to the service pipe by means of the threaded meter-Spud 11. The coupling is secured or connected to the service pipe by means of the threaded sleeve 15. Coupling-nut 27 is moved longitudinally on cylinder 19 until lug 36 contacts the side of pin 35, and then by rotating coupling-nut 27 in the proper direction not only rotates cylinder 19 but causes the latter to move longitudinally of sleeve 15 to move the free end of the cylinder against the adjacent end of meter-Spud 12. This longitudinal travel of cylinder 19, as heretofore described, is attained by means of the threads 17 vand 18. Vhen the end of cylinder 19 is brought into contact withthe end of meter-Spud 12 coupling-nut 27 is moved longitudinally to free lug 36 from pin 35, leaving the, nut free to rotate independently of cylinder 27 and be ythreaded upon the threadedend of meter-Spud 12, whereby the operation of coupling or connecting the meter with the service pipe line is completed.

Having. thus fully described my said invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A Water-meter coupling comprising a hollow sleeve for Connecting the adjacent end of a service pipe, a cylinder extending through the hollow portion of said sleeve and having independent longitudinal and rotational travel therein, means for moving said cylinder longitudinally, a meter-Spud connecting-means carried von and having both longitudinal and rotational travel of said cylinder, and means carried by said meterspud connecting-means for temporarily engaging and for rotating said cylinder in unison with said connecting-means when the latter is moved longitudinally to eect such engagement.

2. A water-meter coupling comprising a hollow sleeve for connecting the adjacent end of a service pipe, a cylinder extending through the hollow portion of said sleeve and having independent longitudinal and rotational travel therein, means for moving said cylinder longitudinally, a meter-Spud connecting-means arranged on and susceptible of longitudinal and rotational movements -independently of said cylinder, and means for temporarily connecting and simultaneously rotating'the connecting-means and cylinder.

3. A water-meter coupling comprising a hollow sleeve for connecting the adjacent end of a service pipe, a cylinder extending through the hollow portion of said sleeve and having independent longitudinal and rotational travel therein, means for moving said cylinder longitudinally, a meter-Spud connecting-means arranged on and susceptible of longitudinal and rotational movements independently of said cylinder, means for temporarily connecting and for simultaneously rotating said 'connecting-means and cylinder, and means carried by the cylinder for preventing accidental displacement of said meter-Spud connecting-means.

d. A water-meter coupling comprising a hollow sleeve for connecting the adjacent end of a service pipe, threads in the internal wall of said sleeve, a longitudinally movable cylinder arranged in the hollow portion of said sleeve, threads on the externalA surface of said cylinder for operatively engaging the internal threads of the sleeve, a meterspud connecting-means Icarried by said-cylinder and having both longitudinal and rotational travel independently of said sleeve, and means fory temporarily Connecting and for simultaneously rotating said connectingmeans and cylinder at the will of the operator.

In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal at Wabash, Indiana, this 13th day of November, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and eighteen.

EDWIN H. FORD. [1.. s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

